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Buddy kicked out of library for OC

bennie1986

Regular Member
Joined
Jul 30, 2009
Messages
368
Location
Spokane, Washington, USA
A buddy of mine was recently asked to leave the Spokane City library for OCing citing their rules of conduct which states, “For the comfort and safety of patrons, volunteers, and staff, and the protection of Library property, the following actions are examples of conduct not allowed on Library property: Carrying firearms and dangerous weapons of any type (except by law enforcement officers.)”. The county library doesn’t have any mention of firearms under their policies.

I have reread RCW 9.41.300 to make sure I didn’t miss anything about Public Libraries but didn’t find anything. I also looked up RCW 27.12 which has to do with Public Libraries as didn’t find anything about firearms. I called the Spokane Public Library and spoke to the building manager Denis Fredrickson. I asked if he had any info about the policy and he said,”You also can’t have firearms in the courthouse and other public building like that”. I informed him that RCW 9.41.300 specifically addresses “places like that” and the public library is not one of them. I also informed him RCW 27.12 on public libraries also doesn’t have any restrictions of firearms. Mr. Fredrickson referred me to the city attorney because he said that they are the ones that approved the policy. I called the city attorney and left a message for Pat Dalton, the receptionist said he would be the best person to talk to about the situation.
 

joejoejoe

Regular Member
Joined
Jan 12, 2010
Messages
319
Location
Vancouver, WA
Call the city Attorney, then go to the City Hall with your information if the attorney does nothing. Ridiculous that everyone keeps making up laws. Keep us updated.

Joe~
 

Kwolfhound

New member
Joined
Aug 31, 2010
Messages
3
Location
Spokane, WA
Times for library

Hey,

New here, I'm the "buddy" that Bennie is referring to and He finally persuaded me to join. Fyi the library opens at 10:00am this saturday and if everyone is game... I'll be there too- even if I get kicked out lol. :banghead: According to their policy "Failure to comply with the Library's established rules, regulations, and policies could result in removal fro the premises and exclusion from the Library for a period of one day to two years, or in arrest or prosecution." :mad: Seeing as I've already "violated" the policy once... I could see them kicking me out- but the rest of ya'll will likely be a distraction so maybe not!!! :lol:
 

heresolong

Regular Member
Joined
Oct 4, 2007
Messages
1,318
Location
Blaine, WA, ,
Personally I would not show up with a group as this dilutes the message that you are engaged in actual lawful library activites. If you show up with a group you could be seen as a protest and they can ask you to leave for being a disruption.
 

JSlack

Regular Member
Joined
Jul 9, 2010
Messages
54
Location
Eastern Warshingtun
good point. could loosely stage a every 5 minute deal....every 5 minutes a new guy walks in OCing. checks out a book, peruses the isles, and then leaves.

EDIT
On the other hand, don't folks meet up at the library to do like a book club or something....I am not a library goer...so I am not well informed, but it seems I have seen separate rooms for this sort of thing...?
 
Last edited:

bennie1986

Regular Member
Joined
Jul 30, 2009
Messages
368
Location
Spokane, Washington, USA
Personally I would not show up with a group as this dilutes the message that you are engaged in actual lawful library activites. If you show up with a group you could be seen as a protest and they can ask you to leave for being a disruption.

It would only be a protest if we make a protest. Personally I don’t want to be involved in a protest I just want to go use the library for its intended purpose.
 

joejoejoe

Regular Member
Joined
Jan 12, 2010
Messages
319
Location
Vancouver, WA
Study group... duh. If there were three of you meeting at the library to study RCW laws regarding firearms, I think it would be a completely legitimate reason to have three of you with guns. If you went in with 15 people, and none of you got a book... well then... yeah

Joe~
 

bennie1986

Regular Member
Joined
Jul 30, 2009
Messages
368
Location
Spokane, Washington, USA
Update

So I spoke with Pat Dolton of the City Attorney’s Office and he started giving me the run around saying that you can’t carry at the library because of RCW 9.41.270 (in a manner, under circumstances, and at a time and place that either manifests an intent to intimidate another or that warrants alarm for the safety of other persons.) He said he didn’t know why he was even talking to me and referred me to the attorney that represents the library Mike Piccolo. I left Mike a message about this issue and he got back to me within 5 minutes. He said he would be doing some research in the next few days so he can try and help the staff understand state law. If I don’t hear from him by Friday I will call him back to see what he has accomplished.
 
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